Growing up in Malaysia, my siblings and I were educated in English. But thanks to my family’s dedication to preserving our mother tongue, ours was a bilingual household where Tamil was the primary language. 

I also picked up Malay from friends and neighbours, becoming fluent during my schooling years. 

Being in a lively, close-knit family of seven had also made me comfortable with interacting with others. I’ve always loved meeting new people and over time, my curiosity about the world beyond my home grew stronger.